Ventilator

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a ventilator. Channels are horizontally extended in the interior of a total heat exchanger. The channels are vertically stacked for thereby enhancing the efficiency of heat exchange.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/914,086, filed Aug. 10, 2004, the entire content of which isexpressly incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a ventilator, and in particular to animproved ventilator that allows to form a smaller heat exchanger byenhancing a heat exchange efficiency of supplied air and exhausted airin a heat exchanger in which the heat exchange is performed by makingthe supplied air and exhausted air to crossed each other.

2. Description of the Background Art

Generally, in a certain limited space in which air is not wellcirculated, and various kinds of lives breath together, the amount ofoxygen gradually decreases while the carbon dioxide gradually increases.When a person stays in a limited narrow space or a space with manypersons therein, it is needed to regularly change the indoor air withexternal fresh air. In this case, a ventilator is generally used.

The conventional ventilator adapts a method of forcibly dischargingindoor air to the outside using one blower. However, in the instancewhere the indoor air is forcibly discharged using one blower, theadditional cost is spent for warming or heating the indoor air to adesired temperature since the indoor warm air or hot air are directlydischarged to the outside without passing through a certain filter.

In order to overcome the above problems, a ventilator adapting a totalheat exchange method has been developed. In the above ventilator, thesupplied outdoor air goes through a heat-exchanging process with thedischarged indoor air.

FIG. 1 is a plane view of a ventilator for describing the operation of aconventional ventilator, and FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view takenalong the line I-I′ of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional ventilator 10 includes acasing 11 forming an outer construction, an air supply suction part 31formed in one surface of the casing 11 for sucking outdoor air, asuction duct 33 for sucking outdoor air sucked through the air supplysuction part 31, and an air supply discharge part 32 for dischargingoutdoor air into an indoor. In addition, an exhaust suction part 41 isformed in one surface of the casing 11 for sucking indoor air. Theindoor air sucked through the exhaust suction part 41 is flown by anexhaust duct 43. An exhaust discharge part 42 discharges the indoor airto the outdoor. In addition, there are further provided a suction fan 30installed in the air supply suction part 31 and the air supply dischargepart 32 for sucking indoor air, and an exhaust fan 40 installed in aflow path connecting the exhaust part 41 and the exhaust discharge part42 for sucking indoor air.

In addition, there is further provided a total heat exchanger capable ofachieving heat exchange in such a manner that outdoor air and indoor arecrossed with each other. In detail, the total heat exchanger 20 includesa suction air flow path 21 for flowing outdoor air, and an exhaust flowpath 22 for flowing indoor air. Here, since the suction air flow path 21and the exhaust flow path 22 are alternately formed in a layer structurewith a partition wall therebetween, that outdoor air and indoor air arenot mixed during heat exchange.

Namely, in the conventional ventilator, the heat exchange is achieved insuch a manner that the outdoor and indoor air inputted through theoutdoor and indoor sides are not mixed with each other when they passthrough the suction air flow path 21 and the exhaust flow path 22 of thetotal heat exchanger 20. In detail, the total heat exchanger 20 has alateral cross section of a diamond shape and is longitudinally extendedin a horizontal direction. In addition, the sucked outdoor and indoorair are inputted along a lower slanted surface of the total heatexchanger 20 and are discharged along the upper side slanted surface.The sucked outdoor and indoor are inputted along the upper side slantedsurface and are discharged along the lower side slanted surface.

However, since the total heat exchanger 20 is arranged in a diamondshape, the conventional ventilator has the following problems.

Since there is a limit in the vertical height of the ventilator, thecross section dimension of the total heat exchanger has a certain limit.Therefore, it is impossible to make the cross section of the total heatexchange larger. In addition, in the case that the length of the totalheat exchanger is extended in order to compensate the limit of the crosssection of the total heat exchanger, the size of the total heatexchanger is increased. In addition, as the length of the total heatexchanger is extended, the airflow path passing through the total heatexchanger is bent at many points, so that the resistance of the flowpath is increased.

Since air is inputted through the lower side and is discharged throughthe upper side, in other words, since the flow path is bent in the upperand lower directions, a multiple layer flow section B is formed in theflow path at both sides of the inlet and outlet of the total heatexchanger. In this case, the resistance of the flow path is alsoincreased.

The air inputted eccentrically inputted in the left or right directionin the total heat exchanger does not reach at the opposite suction airflow path 21 or the exhaust flow path 22, so that a dead zone is formedwherein the efficiency of heat exchange is sharply decreased therein.Since the heat exchange is not actually performed in the dead zone, theefficiency of the heat exchange of the total heat exchanger 20 isdecreased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aventilator structure capable of overcoming the problems encountered inthe conventional art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ventilatorstructure capable of minimizing the dimension of a ventilator byimproving a structure of a total heat exchanger that performs heatexchanger by outdoor air and indoor air.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide aventilator capable of decreasing a resistance in a flow path in such amanner that an airflow path is simplified, and a multiple layer flowsection in a flow path is removed. In addition, a dead zone is notformed in the interior of a total heat exchanger in such that the air isuniformly flown in the entire flow paths in a horizontal direction of atotal heat exchanger.

It is still further another object of the present invention to provide aventilator capable of significantly enhancing a heat exchange efficiencyof a total heat exchanger and capable of enhancing an efficiency in useof a space in such a manner that a ventilator is conveniently installedin a narrow installation space.

It is still further another object of the present invention to provide aventilator in which a multiple layer flow section does not occur in aflow path, and a dead zone is not formed in a flow path, for therebyincreasing a heat exchange efficiency of a total heat exchanger.

To achieve the above objects, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a ventilator, comprising a casing; a flowpath that is formed in the interior of the casing wherein indoor airand/or outdoor air are sucked and discharged through the flow path; anda total heat exchanger that is connected with the flow path wherein theindoor air and/or outdoor flow through a plurality of channelshorizontally extended, and the upper and lower sides of the total heatexchanger are blocked.

To achieve the above objects, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention, there is provided a ventilator, comprising a casing;a total heat exchanger that is provided in the interior of the casingwherein indoor air and/or outdoor air flow in horizontally extendedchannels, and the upper and lower sides of the total heat exchanger areblocked; a suction duct and a discharge duct that guide the outdoor andindoor air in the direction of the total heat exchanger wherein an outerportion of the casing is connected with the total heat exchanger; and afan formed in the interior of the suction duct and/or the dischargeduct.

To achieve the above objects, according to further another object of thepresent invention, there is provided a ventilator, comprising a casing;a total heat exchanger that is provided in the interior of the casingand is extended in a horizontal direction and has a plurality ofchannels that are stacked in a vertical direction; and a duct thatconnects the total heat exchanger and an outer portion of the casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become better understood with reference tothe accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustrationand thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a plane view of a ventilator for describing the operation of aconventional ventilator;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a ventilator according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a total heat exchangeraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the portion C of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the ventilatoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a ventilator according to a second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a ventilator according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a ventilator according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a ventilator according to afirst embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ventilator 100 according to the presentinvention includes a casing 110 that forms an outer construction of theventilator and protects inner elements, the suction air suction part 120that is provided in one surface of the casing 110 and sucks outdoor air,and an air suction discharge part 121 that is provided in the othersurface of the casing 110 so that air sucked through the suction airsuction part 120 is discharged to the indoor. In addition, there arefurther provided an exhaust suction part 130 that is provided in onesurface of the casing 110 and sucks indoor air, and an exhaust dischargepart 131 that is provided in the other surface of the casing 110 so thatthe indoor air sucked through the exhaust suction part 130 is dischargedto the outdoor. In addition, a total heat exchanger 200 is provided in acenter portion of the ventilator 100 wherein the air inputted into theinterior of the ventilator 100 through the suction air suction part 120and the exhaust suction part 130 is crossed and heat-exchanged. Asuction fan 140 and an exhaust fan 150 are installed in the interior ofthe ventilator 100, so that the outdoor air and indoor air forcibly flowthereby.

A plurality of stacked channels are formed in the total heat exchanger200 in the upper and lower directions. The proceeding directions of theflow path in which the channels are formed are crossed with each otherin the vertical direction. Therefore, the flow path for the air suckedand the flow path for the air exhausted are not mixed. In addition,since the channels are stacked in the total heat exchanger 200 from topto bottom order, it is easy to expand the area of heat exchange. The airflowing in the flow path does not turn in the vertical direction, butturn only in the horizontal direction, so that a flow path resistance bythe flow of air is very small. Therefore, the resistance in airflow isvery small, and the efficiency of the heat exchange is enhanced.

The operation of the ventilator according to the present invention willbe described.

When the power is supplied to the ventilator 100, the suction fan 140for sucking outdoor air is operated, and the exhaust fan 150 for suckingindoor air is operated. In addition, the outdoor air and indoor air areinputted into the ventilator 100 through the suction air suction part120 based on the operation of the suction fan 140. The indoor air isinputted into the interior of the ventilator 100 through the exhaustsuction part 130 based on the operation of the exhaust fan 150. Inaddition, the indoor air and outdoor air inputted into the interior ofthe ventilator 100 perform a heat exchange operation, while passingthrough the total heat exchanger 200. At this time, since the flow pathof the indoor air is filly separated from the flow path of the outdoorair, the indoor air and outdoor air are not mixed.

In detail, the air sucked into the suction air suction part 120 issucked only through the suction air suction part 280 of the total heatexchanger 200 having a rectangular cross section, and the air suckedthrough an exhaust suction part 130 is sucked only through an exhaustsuction part 290 of the total heat exchanger 200 having a rectangularcross section. Therefore, since it is installed away from the flow path,a dead zone in which air does not flow well is not formed. In addition,since the channels in the total heat exchanger 200 are extended in thehorizontal direction without any curves in the upper and lowerdirections, there is not airflow in the upper and lower directions, sothat the resistances in the flow are not caused. In addition, in thepresent invention, since air does not flow in the multiple layers in theinlet and outlet portions of the total heat exchanger 200, theresistances in the flow of air is effectively prevented. Only thedirection of the channel formation is changed at a certain height of thetotal heat exchanger, so that the same rectangular shapes are achieved.

Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to more enhance theefficiency of heat exchange of the ventilator based on the decrease ofthe flow resistance of air and the removal of the dead zone. Even whenthe ventilator is fabricated with a small size, it is possible toachieve the same effects as a large capacity ventilator.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a total heat exchangeraccording to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view ofthe portion C of FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the total heat exchanger 200 according to thepresent invention has a hexahedral shape wherein air is sucked anddischarged in a lateral direction. Namely, the air is sucked through thesuction air suction part 280 and the exhaust suction part 290 formed inone side surface of the total heat exchanger 200, and the air isdischarged through the opposite side of the same.

In detail, the total heat exchanger 200 includes a rectangular plateshaped upper frame 230, a lateral frame 240 that is attached to fourcorners of the upper frame 230 and is vertically extended, and a lowerframe 250 of which corners are attached to the ends of the other side ofthe lateral frame 240. In addition, a suction channel 210 and an exhaustchannel 220 are alternately stacked between the upper frame 230 and thelower frame 250 in the upper and lower directions. In details, theoutdoor air is sucked and discharged through the suction channel 210,and the indoor air is sucked and discharged through the exhaust channel220. The construction of the total heat exchanger 200 will be described.Since the upper and lower sides of the total heat exchanger 200 areblocked by the upper frame 230 and the lower frame 250, air is notsucked or discharged. In addition, the suction air suction part 280 andthe exhaust suction part 290 are formed in four corners of the lateralside of the total heat exchanger 200, and a suction discharge part 281and an exhaust discharge part 291 are formed in the opposite lateralsides of the suction air suction part 280 and the exhaust suction part290.

Each channel 210 and 220 includes a heat exchange plate 261 in which aheat exchange is achieved between the outdoor air and indoor air basedon a heat transfer operation, and a wrinkled plate 260 that is providedbetween the spaced-apart heat exchange plates 261 for thereby guidingthe air to flow in a certain direction. Therefore, the heat exchangeplate 261 is coupled to the upper side and lower side of the wrinkledplate 260.

The wrinkled plate 260 allows the air to uniformly flow in the channels210 and 220, so that the heat exchange is enhanced during the flow ofair. The wrinkled plate 260 operates as fins capable of increasing thearea of heat exchange, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the totalheat exchanger is significantly enhanced. In detail, the wrinkled plate260 is callable of increasing the total heat area with air therebytransferring more heat. As the outdoor air and indoor air pass throughthe interiors of the channels 210 and 220, the heat exchange isperformed by the heat exchange plate 261 and the wrinkled plate 260, sothat the efficiency of the heat exchange of the total heat exchanger ismore enhanced. The winkle plate 260 and/or the heat exchange plate 2651are formed of a certain metal having a high heat transfer coefficient,for example, an aluminum material.

Here, the construction of the wrinkled plate 260 is not limited to theembodiment of the present invention. The wrinkled plate with variousshapes and widths may be adapted. Namely, the wrinkled plate 260 may bedesigned in such a manner that the air is sucked through the suctionparts 280 and 290 in the interiors of the channels, and the air isdischarged through the discharge parts 281 and 291.

The suction channel 210 and the exhaust channel 220 are alternatelystacked, so that the entrance for sucking the indoor air is crossed fromthe entrance for sucking the outdoor air. Therefore, the indoor air andoutdoor air are crossed and flow in the interior of the total heatexchanger 200.

When the total heat exchanger 200 is mounted in the interior of thecasing 110, it faces the bottom of the lower frame 250, and the upperframe faces the upper surface of the same. The lateral side frame 240faces the front and rear sides and both sides of the ventilator 100.

Since the suction terminal and discharge terminal have the same height,a multiple layer flow section does not occur in the flows of indoor andoutdoor air sucked by the total heat exchanger 200 having theabove-described construction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent anyloss due to the flow resistance occurring during the flow of air. Eventhough the capacities of the suction fans 140 and 150 are small, it ispossible to obtain a high efficiency. The consumption of energy may bedecreased. It is possible to obtain high heat exchange efficiency by asmall sized ventilator.

FIG. 6 is a plane view illustrating the operation of the ventilatoraccording to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ventilator 100 according to the presentinvention includes an exhaust flow path formed of the exhaust suctionpart 130, the exhaust suction duct 132, the total heat exchanger 200,the exhaust discharge duct 133, and the exhaust discharge part 131. Inaddition, there is provided a suction flow path formed of the suctionpart 120, the suction duct 122, the total heat exchanger 200, thesuction discharge duct 123 and the suction discharge part 121. Thesuction flow path crosses with the exhaust flow path in a X shape.

In more detail, the suction air suction part 120 and the exhaust suctionpart 130 are the same horizontal line, and the discharge part 121 andthe exhaust discharge part 131 are the same horizontal line by channel.Since the air flow path is formed like that, the length of the air flowis decreased, and the loss in flow is more decreased.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a plane view of a ventilator according to a second embodimentof the present invention. Since the second embodiment of the presentinvention is the same as the first embodiment of the present inventionexcept for the construction of the duct, the detailed description willbe omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the suction air discharge duct 123 and the exhaustsuction duct 132 are crossed at a vertically distanced portion and areconnected with the total heat exchanger 200. The suction air dischargeduct 123 and the exhaust suction duct 132 are crossed in the interior ofthe ventilator 100 based on the characteristic of the fan. In the casethat the suction fan 140 is a centrifugal fan like sirocco fan or turbofan in which air is sucked in an axial direction and discharged in aradius direction, it is needed to minimize the resistance in air flowdischarged from the suction fan 140. In other words, since the directionof the airflow in the centrifugal fan is curved at 90° at the sides ofinlet and outlet of the fan, it is needed to curve the direction of theflow path for thereby decreasing the resistance of airflow.

When the flow path like in the first embodiment of the present inventionis formed in a state that the centrifugal fan, the direction of the flowof the air discharged in a state that the direction of flow is curved at90° by the centrifugal fan should be curved gain in the straight linedirection. In addition, when the flow path is changed, a lot ofresistance occurs based on the inner shape of the duct, resulting a lotof noses.

In the present invention, the suction air discharge duct 123 and theexhaust suction duct 132 are overlapped at the upper and lowerpositions, but the flow paths of the same are not mixed. In the detailedembodiment of the present invention, when the centrifugal fan is used,the neighboring ducts should be obviously crossed with each other.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a plane view of a ventilator according to a third embodimentof the present invention. The third embodiment of the present inventionis the same as the second embodiment of the present invention except forthe construction of a switching unit provided in the flow path.Therefore, the detailed description will be omitted except for the abovedifferent construction.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, the ventilator 100further includes a ventilation duct 170 connected with the exhaustsuction part 130 and the exhaust discharge part 131. In addition, a flowpath switching unit 160 is further provided at an entrance of theexhaust suction part 130. In particular, the flow path switching unit ispreferably provided near the exhaust suction part 130. If it isinstalled near the exhaust fan 150, the installation may be complicated.In addition, a certain problem may occur in the operation of the flowpath switching unit 160 due to a turbulent flow near the exhaust fan150. The exhaust fan 150 may be installed in any portion in the flowpath in which the ventilation duct 170 is divided for thereby achievinga desired operation in the present invention. The flow path switchingunit may includes a conventional damper, and a certain device may beadapted wherein it is rotatable with respect to a hinge point by acertain driving device.

The operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention willbe described. The ventilator according to the present invention may beoperated in the total heat exchange mode or the conventional ventilationoperation mode.

First, in the total heat exchange mode, the flow path switching unit 160blocks the entrance of the ventilation duct 170, so that the indoor airflows through the total heat exchanger 200. At this time, since the heatexchange is performed by the total heat exchanger 200, the indoortemperature and moisture are constantly maintained together with thefunction of ventilation.

In the case that the ventilation operation is performed without thetotal heat exchange, since the flow path switching unit 160 blocks theentrance of the exhaust suction duct 132, the indoor air is dischargedthrough the ventilation duct 170. In a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, a blower may be installed in the interior of theventilation duct 170 for thereby achieving fast ventilation.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a plane view illustrating a ventilator according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment of thepresent invention is the same as the second embodiment of the presentinvention except for the construction that the exhaust suction part isnot on the same straight line as the exhaust discharge part, but is atthe different position. The constructions not described in detail may bedeemed similar with the constructions of the first and second embodimentof the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the ventilator 100 according to the presentinvention, the installation position of the exhaust suction part 130 forsucking the indoor air is not parallel with the exhaust discharge part131, but is formed at a certain angle. In other words, the flowdirection of the air sucked through the exhaust suction part 130 and theflow direction of the air discharged through the exhaust discharge part131 are not parallel. Namely, the exhaust suction part 130 is formed inat a different position, so that the connection with a certain ductconnected with the exhaust suction part 130 is easily achieved. Whenforming connection terminals, other preferred methods and positions maybe easily adapted, so that the convenience of use is enhanced.

The construction that the flow direction of the air is not parallel isnot limited to the construction of the exhaust suction part 130. Namely,other suction parts and/or discharge parts may be installed with variousdirections based on the position that the ventilator 100 is installed.

In the first, second and third embodiments of the present invention, thesuction air suction part and the suction air discharge part areinstalled on the same straight line in parallel, and the exhaust suctionpart and the exhaust discharge part are installed on the same straightline in parallel. However, in the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention, the suction part and the discharge part may be installed inthe other directions. With the above construction, there may not belimits in the formation directions and positions of any types of ducts.Therefore, it is possible to further enhance the convenience of use.

In the present invention, it is possible to make the ventilator smaller.The construction of flow structure is enhanced, for thereby enhancing aheat exchange efficiency.

In addition, since the flow structure is improved, the dead zone inwhich heat exchange is not efficiently performed is minimized. Amultiple layer flow section does not occur in the flow path, thusdecreasing the resistance in airflow.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, itshould also be understood that the above-described examples are notlimited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unlessotherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within itsspirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore allchanges and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of theclaims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intendedto be embraced by the appended claims.

1. A ventilator, comprising: a casing; a flow path formed in the insideof the casing, and sucks in and discharges indoor air and/or outdoorair; and a total heat exchanger connected to the flow path includes aplurality of channels for allowing the indoor air and/or outdoor to flowthrough, and the upper and lower surfaces of the total heat exchangerare blocked; wherein a ventilation duct that connects the indoor airsuction part and discharge part is provided in the flow path, and saidventilation duct is not connected with the total heat exchanger.
 2. Aventilator, comprising: a casing; a flow path formed in the inside ofthe casing, and sucks in and discharges indoor air and/or outdoor air;and a total heat exchanger connected to the flow path includes aplurality of channels for allowing the indoor air and/or outdoor to flowthrough, and the upper and lower surfaces of the total heat exchangerare blocked; wherein said flow path includes at least one ventilationduct that is not connected with the total heat exchanger, and a flowpath switch that performs the switching function of another ductconnected to the total heat exchanger and the ventilation duct.
 3. Aventilator, comprising: a casing; a total heat exchanger that isprovided in the inside of the casing wherein indoor air and/or outdoorair flow through horizontally extended channels, and the upper and lowersides of the total heat exchanger are blocked; a suction duct and adischarge duct that guide the outdoor and indoor air in the direction ofthe total heat exchanger, wherein an outer portion of the casing isconnected with the total heat exchanger; and a fan formed in theinterior of the suction duct and/or the discharge duct; wherein saidsuction duct and discharge duct are cross each other at at least onepoint.
 4. A ventilator, comprising: a casing; a total heat exchangerthat is provided in the inside of the casing wherein indoor air and/oroutdoor air flow through horizontally extended channels, and the upperand lower sides of the total heat exchanger are blocked; a suction ductand a discharge duct that guide the outdoor and indoor air in thedirection of the total heat exchanger, wherein an outer portion of thecasing is connected with the total heat exchanger; and a fan formed inthe interior of the suction duct and/or the discharge duct; wherein saidfan is a centrifugal fan, and said duct having the centrifugal fan isvertically crossed with respect to another neighboring duct, therebydecreasing a resistance in the flow of air from the centrifugal fan.